escalator
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A motor-driven mechanical device made up of a continuous loop of steps that automatically conveys people from one floor to another.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
ehskuhlayterSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɛskəleɪtɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A motor-driven mechanical device consisting of a continuous loop of steps that automatically conveys people from one floor to another.
An upward or progressive course.
Anything that escalates.
A clause in a contract that provides for an increase or a decrease in wages or prices or benefits etc. depending on certain conditions (as a change in the cost of living index)
An escalator clause.
verb
intransitiveinformal
To move by escalator.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Rare
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A motor-driven mechanical device consisting of a continuous loop of steps that automatically conveys people from one floor to another.
Used this way, escalator is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is an engineering use: it is a working term used for accuracy on the job.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Technical/specialist writing
- Science
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A clause in a contract that provides for an increase or a decrease in wages or prices or benefits etc. depending on certain conditions (as a change in the cost of living index).
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
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